Man Shows Up To White Nationalist Rally - Pays The Price

By: Mackenzie Wright | September 13, 2018

After the disgusting and blatant display of white nationalism in Charlottesville and various follow-up protests, some people around the internet have been working to identify those who belong to such groups as the KKK or neo-Nazis. This is another success story.

A gym trainer from Missouri has a very distinctive tattoo, and it was that tattoo that gave him away. A photo of a masked white nationalist marcher in Charlottesville, Virginia went viral, but someone who knew the gym trainer recognized the tattoo on the protester's arm.

The issue was brought to the attention of the trainer's boss, who promptly terminated him.

Bobby Ritter, an unlicensed CrossFit coach, worked for Lab Gym in St. Louis, Missouri until someone shared a photo to the gym's social media page. The photo was of a white supremacist demonstrating at the Charlottesville, Virginia 'Unite the Right' rally earlier this month.

Though the man in the image concealed most of his face, his tattoo gave him away.

Ritter was wearing a gas mask covering his face and a helmet covering his head. He was marching with the KKK and neo-Nazis, making an 'OK' sign with his hand.

All that could be seen were his eyes and the tattoo on his forearm. That was enough.

A Twitter account entitled 'Yes, You're Racist' has been posting and circulating photos of white racist marchers at the event. In just a couple of weeks, some 400,000 people have begun to follow the page.

Ritter is one of the many white supremacists who were identified by people who knew him.

Gym members and clients of Ritter were quick to recognize the tattoo, and turned him in to the gym. According to the Riverfront Times, gym members knew that Ritter was a rabid Trump supporter and a very opinionated conservative.

Justin Thacker, the owner of the gym, quickly sent out an email to his clients and employees saying that he has terminated Ritter.

"After careful consideration, the Lab Gym has severed working relations with Bobby Ritter," he wrote. "There has been questions, concerns, and some evidence to part ways based on differences concerning important core principles that are innate to the Lab Gym and its mission."

Ritter is only the latest in a string of 'Unite the Right' protesters who are being outed and shamed on social media. Cole White, formerly an employee of a Top Dog restaurant in California, lost his job for marching around with a torch alongside white supremacists.

"Thank you for bringing this to our attention," the Top Dog representative wrote, adding they feel 'it is imperative to let you know that Cole White is no longer employed' by their company.

Peter Cvjetanovic, a neo-Nazi student at Reno University, was also found out by his fellow students. He says his 'heart sank' when he saw his picture plastered on social media.

"I did not expect the photo to be shared as much as it was ... I understand the photo has a very negative connotation. But I hope that the people sharing the photo are willing to listen that I'm not the angry racist they see in that photo," Cvjetanovic said, according to the Daily Mail.

"I came to this march for the message that white European culture has a right to be here just like every other culture. It is not perfect; there are flaws to it, of course."

Many white supremacists are now fearing for their careers. The power of social media is helping to get them the attention they were seeking, but you know what they say: be careful what you wish for.